The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has increased its service charge per candidate at accredited Computer Based Tests (CBT) centres from N1,400 to N2,000.

JAMB made this known in its Weekly Bulletin of the Office of the Registrar on Monday.

The board explained that initially, each candidate paid the sum of N1,400 made up of N700 for mock-UTME and another N700 for the UTME.

The board said that the decision to increase the service charge by its management followed the high cost of diesel and other energy challenges in the country.

It said: “Henceforth, partnering CBT centres will collect the sum of N2,000 as service charges from candidates sitting for both the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and mock-UTME.

“In essence, candidates who did not indicate to sit for the mock-UTME will pay only N1, 000 for the UTME while those who want to sit for the mock UTME will pay additional N1000.

“This is irrespective of whether they sit for the examination or not.”

The examination body stated that it has resolved on the move, noting that many candidates who indicated interest to take the mock-UTME had oftentimes refused to turn up for the exercise.

“They end up forcing the centres to expend resources in preparation for their appearance.

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“The implication of this is that once you indicate interest to sit the mock-UTME, you are duty bound to pay for the exercise whether you take the examination or do otherwise,” it added.

JAMB, however, explained that the high cost of maintaining the centres for the two exercises, prompted it to approve the increase to ameliorate the pressure on the centres.

“Consequently, candidates are now advised to make up their minds if, indeed, they want to participate in the mock exercise before indicating their interest at the point of registration.

“This is because they will be required to pay for it.

“It is also owing to the fact that once candidates indicate their interest to take the mock-UTME, the centres to which they will be assigned to will be mandated to put in place necessary facilities to prepare for their appearance.”

The Star